Abstract: The present invention relates to an emergency control device for a spring return valve actuator, the device including: a power source unit for receiving an alternating current (AC) power source, converting and stepping down an AC voltage of the received AC power source to a given direct current (DC) voltage, and supplying the DC voltage, and transmitting a signal as to whether the power source is supplied; a charge unit for receiving the DC voltage from the power source unit to store electrical energy with a given voltage; and a control unit for receiving the DC voltage from the power source unit to supply the received DC voltage to the electromagnetic brake, and if a power source cutoff signal is received from the power source unit, for supplying the electrical energy stored in the charge unit to the electromagnetic brake for a given set time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling blind systems and other systems with moving parts are disclosed. Certain systems and methods couple to a blind system, and include one or more transceiving, processing, sensor, motion delivery, power delivery, and various other components for collectively or individually controlling a blind system to open or close its blinds. Certain systems and methods utilize preprogrammed control instructions stored locally, or user-initiated control signals received from remote devices to control the blind system.

Abstract: A mechanism for assigning unique addresses to identical devices attached to a serial bus is presented. Each device has at least one output and is provided with a storage device to provide a configurable portion of a bus address having a fixed portion and a configurable portion. The device is further provided with circuitry, coupled to the storage device and the output, to determine a state of the output and use the state to configure the configurable portion. Once the configurable portion is configured, the bus address uniquely identifies the device. Such configuration allows more than one such device to be coupled to the same serial bus, e.g., an I2C bus.

Abstract: Method and systems for testing an electric motor are provided. A switching circuit coupled to the motor is operated in a first mode causing current to flow through the motor such that the motor is actuated with near zero torque. A magnitude of the current is repeatedly adjusted between first and second values. The current flow through the motor is monitored.

Abstract: An HVAC actuator configured to function in cold environments by providing a supplemental current component to an HVAC actuator in order to generate supplemental heat to warm the HVAC actuator.

Abstract: A field-oriented control method for an electric drive comprising a plurality of electric motors, for implementing a tension mechanism, especially for load cable and/or gearing means, using measurements of a polyphase motor actual current. The measured values are transformed into a direct current component and a quadrature current component, based upon a magnetic rotor field or flux angle, in a rotor flux-based d,q coordinate system. The quadrature and direct current components from the actual current are subjected to a comparison with predetermined quadrature and direct current components of a current command value.

Abstract: A device for actuating components of a motor vehicle has at least two electric motors, each of which has at least one stator unit and one rotor unit, and a control device for the electric motors, which has at least one logic device and one power device. The control device is fixedly connected to at least one component of both electric motors.

Abstract: An articulating probe head includes motors 12 and 18 for driving respective output shafts 14 and 20 about respective orthogonal axes z and x to move a stylus 22 over the surface of a workpiece under the control of a controller 26. At least one of the motors is inertia balanced by mounting the stator 32 of the motor on bearings 42 to allow it to rotate in opposition to the rotation of the rotor 34. Control of the speed of the spinning stator is achieved by connecting it to the winding assembly 46 of an additional “back-to-earth” motor 47 the magnet assembly 48 of which is connected to the housing. The motor 47 acts as a brake to prevent overspeeding of the rotatable stator, and can have power supplied to it to ensure that the stator does not slow down excessively when the main motor is running at constant angular velocity. Control of the power supply to the motors is achieved by the controller 26.

Abstract: An electric motor, gearbox, position phase angle sensor and motor phase angle sensor are integrated in a common housing to reduce the size of a positioning and actuating system. The housing also includes electronics for detecting and processing the signals from the phase angle sensors. The rotor shaft of the electric motor is designed to be hollow, and the drive shaft is mounted coaxially. The output shaft passing coaxially through the gearbox, and the end of the shaft which protrudes from the gear box is provided with a coupling. The drive shaft passes coaxially through the rotor of the electric motor and carries a position phase angle sensor at the end of the electric motor opposite the gear box. The motor phase angle sensor on the rotor shaft coaxially encloses the position phase angle sensor. The scanning detectors of both sensors are arranged on a common circuit board, which also carries the electronics for detecting and processing the signals of these sensors.

Abstract: An arrangement for operating a brake of a vehicle has a controllable operating electric motor and a conversion device for converting the rotational movement of the operating electric motor into a translational movement of one or several brake element(s) which are in an operative connection with the conversion device. At least one additional electric motor is provided which can be controlled separately of the operating electric motor and has at least one additional conversion device for converting the rotation of the at least one additional electric motor into a translational movement of the brake element(s) which is independent of the translational movement caused by the operating motor and its conversion device.

Abstract: A disc drive circuit includes a pair of DC busses across which are directly connected a disc actuator power amplifier and a three phase spindle motor power amplifier which may be comprised of three circuit branches, each branch having two NMOS transistors connected in series with the junction therebetween connected to one of three spindle motor terminals. A transistor switch is connected between a DC supply source and the DC busses for disconnecting the busses from the voltage source only when the supply voltage drops below a nominal operating voltage range. In one embodiment a full wave diode rectifier is also directly connected across the pair of busses and further connected to the three motor terminals, whereby when the switch is open the back e.m.f. of the free spinning spindle motor energizes the actuator amplifier enabling parking of the actuator heads. In another embodiment the drain to channel regions of the six NMOS transistors are adapted to assume the role of a full wave rectifier.

Abstract: A rotary actuator derives its power from a synchronous motor preferably of the AC type providing constant output speed, and from a non-synchronous motor, preferably of the DC type, in a helper capacity to provide additional torque for a load. Use of certain types of non-synchronous motors to provide a portion of the maximum torque is cheaper than using a synchronous motor whose size is adequate for the maximum torque requirement. A torque limiting clutch which couples the non-synchronous motor output to the synchronous motor output allows the non-synchronous motor to run compatibly with the synchronous motor. A hysteresis coupling type of torque limiting clutch is preferred. In a preferred embodiment, both of the motors drive a gear train, with the non-synchronous motor coupled to the gear train by the torque limiting clutch.

Abstract: The driving device comprises two single-phase stepping motors (1, 2), each having a different preferential direction of rotation. The bidirectional drive is achieved by selectively feeding one or the other of the two motors.

Abstract: A rotary actuator uses a two degree of freedom gear train with three torque members to provide torque to the output element from a first torque member. The torque is supplied to a second torque member from a drive motor. A torsion spring on the third torque member is normally wound tight and held wound by a brake which locks the third torque member during normal operation when electrical power is available for the drive motor. When power is lost, the brake releases the third torque member, allowing the spring to apply torque to the third torque member to drive the output element through the first torque member to a return position. This allows loads such as valves to be returned to a safety condition upon loss of electrical power to the system of which the load and the actuator are a part.

Abstract: A rotating display element which is provided with a display surface member having four display surfaces which are selected by rotating the display surface member, and a display unit which uses the display element. The display surface member has incorporated therein a permanent magnet type motor mechanism and is driven by the permanent magnet type motor mechanism. The rotor of the motor mechanism has first and second double-pole permanent magnet members, and its stator has first and second magnetic members having wound thereon first and second exciting windings, respecitvely. The display unit has first and second power supply means for supplying power to the first exciting winding motor mechanism and third and fourth power supply means for supplying power to the second exciting windings.

Abstract: A method and a circuit arrangement for stopping the test run of a rotor being balanced, in particular a rotor for a motor vehicle wheel. Upon the application of an armature disk of an electromagnetic brake to a friction lining, the electromagnet coil of the brake is supplied with a reduced supply current, so that a reduced braking moment by comparison with the rated braking moment is attained.

Abstract: A slow motion actuating device has a housing with a first opening therein through which an output pin extends. The output pin is connected to a swing arm which is pivotally mounted in the housing and driven by a set of reduction gears. Stops are provided in the housing for limiting movement of the swing arm. An electric motor is mounted in driving relation with the gear set. The motor has a stall current which is low enough to allow the motor to be continuously stalled without damaging it. A printed circuit board is mounted in the housing with a tail portion extending through a second opening in the housing. The circuit board provides electrical connections to the motor and auxiliary contacts which can be opened and closed by a wiper mounted on the swing arm.

Abstract: Electric-powered actuating device usable for the positioning control of valves and the like, featuring a motor, mechanical and spring means capable of driving said valve or other attached devices into a predetermined safety position in case of electrical signal or power failure; said actuating device having electrical amplifying means capable of providing pulsed current to drive said motor in one direction in response to an input signal, a constant current to hold said motor in a selected position, or no power, to allow the mechanical and spring means to reverse the motor direction; additional means are provided to limit the travel to a selected position despite further increases in input signal.

Abstract: A copying apparatus equipped with a brushless DC motor for driving a light source, a photoreceptor drum, etc. and including a motor locking circuit for locking the DC motor. The motor locking circuit, when an external force has been applied to a rotor of the DC motor while the DC motor is not being actuated, causes an electric current to flow through a stator coil of the DC motor such that the electric current produces a reaction force counteracting the external force.

Abstract: Electric-powered actuating device usable for the positioning control of valves and the like, featuring a motor, mechanical and spring means capable of driving said valve or other attached devices into a predetermined safety position in case of electrical signal or power failure; said actuating device having electrical amplifying means capable of providing pulsed current to drive said motor in one direction, a direct current to hold the motor in a selected position or, no power, to allow the mechanical and spring means to reverse the motor direction.

Abstract: A rotating display element is provided with a display surface structure which has a plurality of display surfaces and is mounted on a rotor of a permanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism in a manner to incorporate therein the stepping motor mechanism. The display surfaces of the display surface structure are disposed side by side around the axis of the rotor. The rotor is provided with a double-pole permanent magnet member having north and south magnetic poles spaced apart a 180.degree. angular distance around the axis of the rotor. A stator of the stepping motor mechanism is provided with a first magnetic member having first and second magnetic poles disposed at 180.degree. intervals around the axis of the rotor, a second magnetic member having third and fourth magnetic poles disposed at 90.degree. intervals around the axis of the rotor, a first exciting winding wound on the first magnetic member and a second exciting winding wound o the second magnetic member.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling an electric motor effect operation of such motor by electric energization thereof, and derive from a motor winding or from the back electromotive force of the motor an electric signal indicative of motor speed. The motor is thereupon mechanically stalled, and such stalling is detected from a comparison of the derived speed signal and the electric energization. Deenergization of the motor is effected in response to the stalling detected from the latter comparison. Limit switching of electric motors and actuators without limit switches may be provided in this manner.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a wafer processing machine of the kind which holds a silicon wafer on a vacuum chuck and rotates the wafer for processing operations on the wafer periphery or upper surface incorporates a low-speed motor, a high-speed motor and an overrunning clutch. The low-speed motor is connected to a drive shaft for the chuck through the overrunning clutch and rotates the chuck and wafer at a relatively low and precisely-controlled speed while the edge of the wafer is contoured by a grinding wheel or while the upper surface is mechanically cleaned by a brush engaged with the upper surface of the wafer. The high-speed motor is directly connected to the drive shaft and, when energized for a rinsing and drying operation, rotates the chuck and wafer in the same direction of rotation as the low-speed motor but at high speed while the wafer is being rinsed and dried after the grinding or cleaning operation.